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Governor Rick Scott is dead set against a prescription drug database to track people who abuse painkillers. The US drug czar says Florida’s lack of regulation on doctor shopping is creating a nationwide problem, with people traveling hundreds of miles to visit Florida pill mills. The two power brokers were both in Tallahassee yesterday, but as Whitney Ray tells us, Scott can’t seem to find time to listen to the Czar’s case.

85 percent of all the Oxycodone sold in the US comes from Florida. That’s because drug dealers know they can go to South Florida, visit half a dozen pain clinics, and load up on prescription painkillers.

An estimated seven people overdose on prescription drugs and die everyday in Florida. People are also dying in other states from drugs purchased here.

Last year State Senator Mike Fasano passed legislation creating a prescription drug database to target people who go from doctor to doctor to load up on pain killers.

“People come from all over the United States to get prescription drugs, to get narcotics, to either use them or sell them on the street,” said Fasano.

Earlier this year, Governor Rick Scott announced plans to nix the database, first calling it a waste of money. Now saying…

“I don’t support the database. I believe it’s an invasion of privacy,” said Scott.

Scott’s opposition to the database is drawing attention at the highest levels. The US Drug Czar has been trying to meet with Scott to talk about how Florida’s lack of regulation is affecting law enforcement officers in other states. The US Drug Czar was in Tallahassee Thursday, hoping to meet with Scott.

“I’ve reached out to the governor. I haven’t heard back from him yet, but I understand with all that’s going on in the state,” said US Drug Czar Gil Kerkilowske.

But there wasn’t much on Scott’s schedule while the Czar was in town, just two items: staff/call time and 30 minutes of economic development meetings.

Talks of a meeting are still ongoing. We made a public records request for communications between the Drug Czar and the Governor’s Office. Our request has yet to be satisfied.